As kids we bosom them , took picture with them , and collect their autograph . But what ’s it like to be an grownup earning your living by pretending to be Mickey Mouse , or Cinderella , or Winnie the Pooh ? To find out , we spoke with several current and former Disneyland and Disney World staff member about the reality of living inside the costume .
1. They have their own jargon.
Disney divides their quality performer into two master category : fur character and confront characters . Being a pelt fiber involves commit on a giant , fuzzy costume and pass on only through gesture , or “ animation . ” Also call feeling - alikes , aspect character let in mermaids , fairies , and other human or human - comparable characters .
One important bank bill : According to employee , no performer actually “ plays ” Disney characters . In parliamentary procedure to preserve that Disney conjuration , performers wo n’t commonly admit to portraying Aladdin or Jasmine — instead , they ’re simply “ friend with ” them .
2. You must be this tall to wear the costume …
From shift key to tilt , multiple performers need to be capable to share a costume , and front incisively the same wearing it , so casting agent evaluate aspire performers on height before even regard their act abilities . “ The hearing process is pretty rigorous , ” saysLuannAlgoso , whoworked as a fur theatrical role at Disneyland for about a year , beginning in 2008 . “ The first cut is made within the first 15 minutes in regard to your height . If you do n’t fit the superlative requirement for any of the reference they ’re hiring for , then you get switch off like a shot . ”
After being hired , though , performing artist have a chance to play multiple characters in the same height scope . Algoso wear thin the giant heads of Mickey and Minnie Mouse , Donald and Daisy Duck , Lilo and Stitch , and Meeko , the raccoon fromPocahontas . An anonymous performer currently puzzle out at Walt Disney World tell us she ’s played “ Too many [ pelt character ] to count , ” include Chip and Dale , Winnie the Pooh , and six of Snow White ’s seven gnome .
3. … And this “slender” to show midriff.
grimace fibre are also pick out based on height . manful face roles command tall performers : audition announcements for Tarzan , Gaston fromBeauty and the Beast , and Kristoff fromFrozenrequest actors between 6 - foot and 6 - metrical foot 3 - inches . Princesses , on the other hand , usually occupy the short - to - medium range — Elsa and Anna fromFrozen , Rapunzel , and Jasmine are all listed at 5 feet 3 column inch to 5 feet 7 inches . Characters who are hypothesise to be tiddler , such as Wendy fromPeter Panand Alice fromAlice in Wonderland , are more petite , and a couch call for Tinker Bell requests actress be 4 feet 11 inches to 5 feet 2 inches . villainess , however , are tall and more imperious : Maleficent can be between 5 foot 9 inch and 6 feet , and Cinderella ’s stepmother and the Evil Queen fromSnow Whiteare expect to be between 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 column inch .
Certain parts of the face issue more than others . Hair color and eye people of colour are n’t very important , at least for woman , since all the female characters ( and some of the male characters ) wear wigs , and colored contacts can easy change downcast middle to brown . But a pretty face and a slim figure are non - negotiable — every distaff case draw on the Disney auditions website , from princess to villainess , requires a “ slight build . ” Jasmine , thanks to her midriff - baring costume , also need a “ toned mid - section . ” As for the men , the ideal Kristoff has an “ athletic bod , ” while Gaston boasts a “ potent , athletic physique ” and Tarzan need a “ substantial , athletic , powerful build , and very toned frame . ”
4. Auditions are intense.
A recruiter for the Disney College Program suggest aspirant to “ plan on spending one to six hours at an audition . ” At a pelt character audition , the casting agents make their first cut based strictly on height . Then come a serial of “ animation ” exercises , which involve taciturnly improvising ground on fanciful scenario . “ I was asked to pretend to be Eeyore , Winnie the Pooh , and even to guess to be a pregnant cheerleader , ” Algososays . Casting officials make a serial publication of cut throughout the rounds of improvisation , then the remaining performing artist put on costume and perform moreimprovin character . After a last turn of cuts , pick out performer receive Book of Job offers . Before would - be " side characters " can even proceed to the tough stuff and nonsense , though , they ’re asked to line up . According to KristenSotakoun , who seduce a smudge as Pocahontas , “ If you attend a look - alike audition , you literally stand there in a line , [ and ] they look at you . ” During the auditory sense , casting managers value the performers individually , asking each to smile . After this cognitive operation , called the “ type out , ” the hiring managers release anyone who does n’t jibe the look they want . A former Snow White said , “ They look at about 50 people at a time and go through rows of 10 to decide who stupefy abridge for look alone . It ’s the biggest undercut of the day . ” While about 700 people attended her tryout , she recalled , “ After the ‘ case out ’ there were only about 150 leave . ”
confront character hearing can last up to two days and involve as many as a thousand wannabee . In addition to the “ eccentric out , ” the multi - step auditory sense cognitive operation includes a movement portion , in which auditioners learn a combination of dancing steps , as well as an “ invigoration ” section . Performers who make it past this leg get sent to hair and composition , where they try on wigs , have their makeup done , and put on the costume of the role they ’re being considered for . Dressed to yarn-dye , each hopeful receive coaching on what her character should fathom like , then does a abbreviated inhuman meter reading copy that vocalization and accent . After taking pictures in costume , auditioners wait for vagabond factor to make their conclusion .
5. Everyone starts out as a fur character.
Even the footling Mermaid has to pay her due playing Winnie the Pooh . Performers hired for face character are first train to portray fully dress up characters , then drop several weeks salutation kids while fatigue giant furred suits . After this probation period , face characters train for their human roles .
6. Performers do their own makeup …
All character performer get devote for one hour of dressing and prep . During education , performer with face persona check how to create a specific character looking at with makeup . Disney offer the makeup products to ensure a uniform looking from performing artist to performer . After makeup , face up characters put on their wigs and costumes and make final adjustments .
7. … And even learn to write like their characters.
During the training process , performers see their characters ' movies to commit be active and speak like them . They also get a line their John Hancock . Each fictitious character has a specific signature tune that performers must replicate , so that ballpark visitors who call for autographs see consistency from twelvemonth to year — regardless of who ’s playing Belle or Goofy at the second .
8. There’s no talking (or singing) allowed.
Mickey , Minnie , and their ilk ca n’t verbalise , only gesticulate effusively . But while face characters talk to guests , they ’re still not hypothesize to blab out . A different set of performer babble out for the on - internet site shows , but these musical performers are considered a disjoined category of employee and are often represented by the Actors ’ Equity Association .
9. They have to be able to think on their feet.
present role deal with all kinds of challenges , from curious Thomas Kid demanding answers to problematical questions , to snarky guests who essay to get a performer to break character . Sotakoun remark that run a historical case is in particular tricky . Some kids find it perplexing to talk to “ Pocahontas ” when their teacher have teach them the real Pocahontas is dead . During one meet - and - greet as the Native American princess last yr , a young British son came up to her and announce , “ My class visited your grave last year ! ”
10. The costumes can take a toll on performers' bodies.
The travails of one former pelt character involved getting perforate , being put in a choke coil hold , feature her shoulder partly dislocated , and earning three bruised finger clappers . This performer eventually fail to forcible therapy for her berm and demand stifle surgical procedure thanks to the weight of her costume . Fur character costumes can matter as much as 47 pounds , and in 2005 — the last twelvemonth for which comprehensive information is available — they were charge for 282 accidental injury . That year , part performers across the four parks that make up Walt Disney World report 773 hurt total ; 49 reports cited the punishing costume heads as the cause of injury . Algoso can relate : She once had to go on impermanent handicap parting after a guest blame her up and shook her when she was playing Minnie Mouse , giving her whiplash from the weight unit of her cartoon head .
Though she say over - enthusiastic guests sometimes hug “ too punishing or too sharply , ” Algoso believe most do so accidentally . The anon. fur fibre check that , while certain nipper find it hilarious to punch them in the torso , most painful moment happen because Edgar Albert Guest “ forget sometimes that what they are doing could bruise us , ” as when a parent slap her forcefully on the back and knocks the wind instrument out of her . Of the 773 injury reported in 2005 , 107 point to pushing , pulling , and other belligerent behaviour from guests ( both adults and kid ) as the cause of their injuries .
11. It’s hot.
The anonymous Walt Disney World fur character says the worst part of the task is “ always feeling hot , red-hot , hot ! ” ( Performers at Southern California ’s Disneyland contend with likewise unpleasant temperature . ) Disney does monish auditioners about this aspect of the business , observe in casting calls that “ all performers ” experience “ pic to blistering and humid weather . ”(Contrary to popular belief , fur costume do n’t come in equipped with lover . )
For this reason , there are strict rules about how long characters ' set can last . Indoors , pelt theatrical role perform for 30 to 45 minutes before they get a 30- to 45 - minute of arc break . Outside , put length depend on the warmth index finger , per employee contracts and OSHA regulations . If it ’s under 94 ° F , performers drop about 30 minute outside , then 30 minutes inside relaxing . If the heat pass 95 ° F or high-pitched , quality work shorter sets , about 20 minutes — and the hotter it grow , the less time fibre can spend salutation guest . According to their union declaration , Walt Disney World character performing artist should expend at least as much time resting as they do perform — and more if they ’re working out of doors .
Since they ’re not labour inside gargantuan fuzzy case , face lineament can spend a moment more time doing sports meeting - and - greets , but even in coolheaded weather condition , they do n’t pass more than 60 second outside at a prison term . Most external set last about 45 minute .
To annul long stretches without a beloved character — and to assure there are enough Mickeys and Elsas spread throughout the ballpark — there are unremarkably a few performers playing the same parts during a given faulting .
12. You can check out the backstage area—but you probably won’t want to.
Of the set - up behind the scenes , a former Walt Disney World pelt character quip in her Reddit AMA , “ Ever check the back of a shopping center ? It look kind of like that . ” In Orlando , the Magic Kingdom does have a internet of service tunnels — call “ utildors ” rather than simply “ corridors”—under the park , used for glamorous activities such as making livery and transporting garbage . Disneyland has no such tunnels .
mould member - only space include dressing rooms , hallways , a cafeteria , and break rooms with television set . Again , these areas are evenhandedly boring by stamp accounts . If you still desperately want to see where they store Mickey ’s head , Walt Disney World offers a five - hour backstage tour called " Keys to the Kingdom . " A former fur character warns , “ It ’s a duty tour for ages 16 and over , because you have a high likelihood of seeing part - dressed fibre . I ’ve been wearing Piglet ’s legs and infantry and had to separate the Blue Fairy where to go when seen [ by guests ] , I ’ve even been in almost full costume ( I was carry Minnie ’s head teacher by the chin ) when client have stop to take care at me . ” She calls the tour “ Murder the Magic . ” You ’ve been warned .
13. Performers have to reaudition at least once a year.
Character supervisors reassess cheek character performing artist every six months or so to “ verify your silhouette has n’t changed . ” During these “ re - looks , ” coach check performers ’ body anatomy , skin , and general appearance to ensure they still conform to into the costume and still have the correct look for their characters . The trades union declaration governing the use of Walt Disney World grapheme performers mentions explicitly that character performers must attend at least one sense of hearing each year to certify they ’re still suited for their roles .
14. Face characters make more than fur characters.
In 2014 , Walt Disney World fur characters made between $ 10.10 and $ 14.66 an hour , look on how long they ’ve bind their job . Face characters , however , welcome $ 3.25 more an time of day , a “ face premium ” that presumptively serves as compensation for continually possess to come up with responses to Edgar Albert Guest ’ curious questions .
Thanks to talks between Disney and the performers ’ union in 2014 , all Walt Disney World characters received a 35 to 50 cent acclivity in May 2015 , and they ’ll have another in July 2016 . Wages for Disneyland characters are corresponding to those of their Orlando counterparts .
15. The stress, and the rules, and the heat are worth it.
Everyone we spoke to seemed to agree : reach children smile is the in effect part of the job . A former Alice mark that children who really trust they are meeting these case are “ what made [ the job ] special . ” The anon. current fur character admit she has speculative days , but “ sometimes all it takes is that one cute tike ” to turn it around .
Current and former fictitious character performer also often cite experience with Make - A - Wish participants and other inauspicious or handicapped children as some of their most meaningful interactions . Algoso remembered one event for a child with cancer facilitated by Make - A - Wish . She did a particular converge - and - greet as Princess Minnie Mouse and take down , “ I ’m just glad I had a head over my face because at the closing of that slip , I was cry bucket loads of tears . ”
Another former fur character reflected , “ I also once had a slight boy in a wheelchair zoom up to me , block short , look up at me , and say ‘ Mickey , Mom and Dad ask me what I wanted before I go meet Jesus , and I said I want to meet you ! ’ ” She expresses what so many character performers report feeling : “ When I questioned why I was sweating my ass off , eye burning because a drop of sweat hit my contact , I remember of nestling like this . ”
